Apparatus for the removal of fibre fuzz from flyer spinning machines



Feb. 13, 1968 E. G. w. BREUN'ING 3,368,338

' APPARATUS FOR THE REMOVAL OF FIBRE FUZZ FROM FLYER SPINNING MACHINES Filed May4. 196e /N VEN FUR Feb. 13, 1968 E. G. w. BREUNING 3,368,338 APPARATUS AFOR THE REMOVAL 0F FIBRE Fuzz FROM Y FLYER SPINNING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1966 FIGB.

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LA-rrQQ/vsy United States Patent O 3,363,338 APPARATUS EUR THE REMVAL F FIERE FUZZ FROM FLYER SPINNING MACHINES Ernst Gotthold Wilhelm Breuning, Fruhlingsweg 6, Gerlingen-Bopser, Wurttemberg, Germany Filed May 4, 1966, Ser. No. 547,500 Claims priority, application Germany, May 6, 1965, B 8,787; Aug. 26, 1965, Il 83,441 14 Claims. (Cl. 57--56) The present invention relates to the removal of fibre fuzz from flyer spinning machines.

In modern high speed flyer spinning machines, particularly fly frames, the increase yin the speed of rotation of the spindle and the increase in the size of the bobbins causes a serious increase in the fibre fuzz, a feature which greatly impairs the quality of the yarn and represents a serious problem for the lcorrect operation of high speed spinning machines.

In the operation of high speed flyer-spinning machines the movements and flow ratios which occur in the socalled flyer zones of the spindles are such that some of the resultant fibre fuzz settles on the limbs of the flyers and tends to be retained thereon.

lrI`he primary objects of the invention are to ensure that the collection of fibre fuzz which for any reason occurs in the regions of the flyers of the individual spindles, which are very important for spooling purposes, is immediately Vapparent at the place where it occurs and that removal is efficiently achieved, thereby eliminating to a considerable extent harmful reactions on the nature of the spinning material.

According to the present invention fibre fuzz adhering to the rotating flyers of a flyer spinning machine, together with the fibre fuzz forming in the vicinity of the flyers, is directly exposed, at the place where it is formed, i.e. the immediate vicinity of the space in which the flyers rotate, to the action of suction, s0 that the fuzz is drawn into discharge ducts by suction and pneumatically removed.

It is thus possible to control effectively the formation of fibre fuzz at all times and at such parts of the machine when and where it is still in a condition .in which it can be collected and removed without complications, that is to say it has not had the opportunity, by the'accumulation of -a large number of small individual fibres, of being converted into flocks or lumps. Thus, although it is possible `by powerful suction to remove libre fuzz even when it has been converted into its dangerous form of flocks and lumps, the present invention without the necessity for powerful suction facilitates removal of fuzz before the dngerous effects on the spinning material, arising from the formation of flocks or comparatively large conglomerations of fuzz, can arise.

A further object of the present invention lies in the selected devices suitable for carrying out the invention. In this respect, the invention resides in the provision of suction devices each of which is associated with an individual flyer or with a group of several Vflyers and comprises a suction tube, having one or more suction openings, arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the fly frames and in the region of the limbs thereof. The design of suction devices, according to the present invention, may be varied as desired and in this respect by the present invention, special attention has been given to the conversion of existing flyer spinning machines to enable them at negligible cost to be converted for using the method of the present invention and to provide them with the devices necessary to perform said method.

Where the suction devices of the present invention are provided as part of the initial equipment of a flyer spinning machine for carrying out the new method, instead 3,368,338 Patented Feb. 13, 1958 of providing individual suction tubes or ducts for each flyer or each group of flyers, a shallowV suction duct may be provided which extends over the entire length of the machine, said duct having spaced suction openings lwhich are aligned on a level with, and at a space from, each individual flyer or group of flyers.

The present invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of devices suitable for carrying out the method of operation and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows in plan view the front portion of a flyer spinning machine having two series of spindles;

FIGURE 2 is -a corresponding side elevational view;

FIGURE 3 is a view in elevation, partly in crosssection, of a suction unit which is particularly designed and suitable for carrying ou-t the method of the present invention;

`FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section through one embodiment of suction nozzle suitable for use in the present connection;

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of a modified device which is provided with a wandering suction nozzle for removing fibre fuzz adhering to the front wall -of the flyer frame.

FIGURE 6 illustrates in plan view a fur-ther embodiment of a device for use in carrying out the method of the present invention;

`FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view on the line A-A of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a detail showing in longitudinal section a suction tube fitted with -two outlets;

FIGURE 9 illustrates a modified embodiment of the suction tube of FIGURE 8, having two suction apertures which are provided at different levels of the tube;

-FIGURE 10 is ea view, in cross-section and on an enlarged scale, of a further embodiment of the suction tube shown in FIGURE 8. In the construction illustrated in FIGURE l there is located, between ends 1 and 2 on the driving side of the machine, a vertically displaceable spindle bed 3 through which pass a number of spindles which support flyers 4. Bobbins 5 are disposed coaxially of, fand within, the flyers 4.

Extending below the spindle bed 3 is the lower frame 6 ofthe machine which supports upstandingsuction tubes 7 which extend upwardly as far as the plane of the apices of the arcs at the upper ends of the flyers 4.

Suction units in the form of so-called travelling nozzles 7 incorporating tubes 7 are arranged to be displaceable on suitable guides parallel to, and 0n both sides of, the spindle bed 3 and have suction openings 8 facing the respective flyers 4 of the associated row of spindles.

As may be seen from FIGURE l the suction effect on the travelling nozzles 7 may be produced by a suction system incorporating the two suction ducts 9 having openings 10 therein. The nozzles 7, as they move past a spinle, automatically uncover for a predetermined period that opening lil in the suction duct 9 associated with said spindle, and thus operate as valve means to bring the suction opening t5 into communication with the suction duct 9 without effecting other openings 8. At the same time, it is possible to achieve a strong suction effect with a comparatively small power output.

The necessary suction at the orices 8 may be obtained in various ways by attaching each suction tube 7, for eX- ample, to a unit provided at any desired position on the machine for producing the necessary vacuum.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the suction openings are in the form of slots which are provided in the upper part of each suction tube 7, the length of said slot being approximately equal to the height of the limbs of the flyers 4. As shown in FIGURE 2, the suction tube 7 is supported so that each suction slot 8 extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle with which it is associated and is located just outside the cylindrical path generated by the limbs of the flyer of said spindle, this path be-ing shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 6.

The suction device of FIGURE 3 is formed as a constructional unit of the machine. Thus the suction tube 7 merges downwardly into an enlarged housing 11 in which is located a fan unit 13. A collecting screen 12, which is arranged so that it can be easily removed and cleaned, is disposed in the front of the fan of the unit 13.

Suction units such'as those shown in FIGURE 3 are associated with the individual spindles of the spinning machine. Alternatively, however, and by means of additional features, to which reference 'will `be made herein, suction units of the kind shown in FIGURE 3 may be utilised to operate in the vicinity of two, three or more flyers so as to remove simultaneously the fibre fuzz occurring in the vicinity defining the areas of said flyers.

FIGURE 4 shows a most advantageous embodiment of a travelling nozzle, wherein the suction opening 8 is provided with a scraper device 14 which mechanically detaches the fibres clinging to the flyers 4. The fibres can thereby be induced into the suction opening 8 by a very weak suction effect.

The movements of the travelling nozzle 7 along a row of spindles lmay be effected by hand, but preferably they are automatically displaced by suitable conventional means. In the case of frames having only one row of spindles it is suflcient to use only one travelling nozzle 7 for removing the fibre fuzz in the areas of the flyers. Again the nozzle 7 may be formed in such manner that it is not displaced upright, as in the case of the already described embodiments, but is suspended from a carrying frame past the spindles.

A more thorough cleaning of the spindle regions may be achieved by enabling the travelling nozzle, which moves behind the row or rows of spindles, also to develop a suction effect on its side remote from the spindles. By this means the fuzz clinging to the front of the bed of the flyer frames is also removed at the back. This is shown schematically in plan view 'with reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 5, where the travelling nozzle 7 which is movable in the regions of the flyers 4 of the rear row of spindles and the front Wall 1S of the bed of flyer frames, has a slot-like suction opening 19 at its rear in addition to its suction opening 8.

The suction device of the present invention may also comprise a plurality of fixed suction nozzles, wherein the flyers move into the effective area of the suction nozzle during their rotation. With the use of such suction nozzles it is advisable to bring them individually into action through conventional independent valve arrangements. Such devices may be of particular advantage on singlerow spindle arrangements.

FIGURES 6-10' show further embodiments of suction devices of the present invention for the removal of bre fuzz from the operating areas of the flyers.

In the construction illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7 suction tubes S are provided in the immediate vicinity of the regions swept by the flyers 4, and which are shown in dotted lines, each tube in passing through the spindle Ibed 3 and being connected thereto, operates in the space between two adjacent flyers 4. In this arrangement the nozzle shape of the suction openings 9 of the suction tubes 8 is apparent. The suction tubes 8 are in air-conducting communication with a suction passage 10 which is arranged below the spindle bank 3 and can be connected in turn to a suction unit of known design such as by means of a movable conduit.

As a consequence of the periodic rising and falling movement of the spindle bed 3, necessary for the winding operation of the thread on the bobbins 5, the suction openings 9 of the suction tubes 3 slide along the limbs of the flyers 4. By this means all the fibre fuzz clinging to the limbs is sucked into the suction openings 9 and 4 removed through the suction tubes 8'. It will be appreciated that by connecting the tubes 8 to the spindle bed 3, the said tubes are vertically displaced in unison with the bobbins 5. However instead of deriving the drive of the suction tubes 8 from the movement of the spindle bed 3, the said drive may be effected independently thereof.

The suction tube of FIGURE 8 has at its upper end two short socket connections 11 extending in diverging directions. By this means, when the two sockets are opposed to each other, fibre fuzz is removed simultaneously from two adjacent zones of rotation of flyers.

Suction tubes of this type which are designed at the top in the described manner, may be utilised on machines externally of, and in front of, each of two rows of spindles of said machines or, again, on the insides of or between two rows of spindles or further they may be distributed at suitably spaced intervals along the central axis longitudinal of the flyer.

In the embodiment shown lin FIGURE 9, a suction tube S is provided with suction openings 9 which are located at different levels on the tube. Such a construction is particularly suitable for efficiently removing fibre fuzz from flyer limbs of comparatively long length, over their entire length.

In the embodiment of suction illustrated in FIGURE l0, the tube 20 has conical suction sockets 21 diverging to the side in a manner similar to that shown in FIGURE 8. In this case, however, the wall refining each socket on one side has an angle bend to the side and is there provided with a brush-like scraper.

It will be appreciated that the suction tubes may also be attached to the frame of the machine or to frame-like devices thereof, instead of to the spindle bed, said frame or devices either themselves executing a vertical movement or rendering possible such a movement by the suction tubes.

Again it will be understood that the method of the present invention for pneumatically removing fibre lfuzz accumulating in the regions of rotation of the flyers of a spinning machine and if desired combined and supported by mechanical means for collecting the fibre fuzz and/ or scraping it off mechanically, can be achieved either while the spinning machine is inoperative or when it is running, that is to say when yarn is being wound onto the bobbins.

In the foregoing the invention has been described in reference to a specific illustrative device. It will be evident, however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent parts or elements for those shown herein for illustration, may be made without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the invention as set `forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

I claim: 1. A flyer spinning machine incorporating a frame, a ed, a plurality of vertically disposed bobbins on said bed, a plurality of flyers having depending limbs with each flyer rotatable about the axis of one of said bobbins for twisting yarn fed to the flyer and for winding said yarn on said bobbin, means for rotating said flyers and said bobbins, suction means comprising at least one suction tube each associatedwith at least one llyer and having at least one inlet orifice facing, and disposed in the vicinity of a cylindrical path generated by said limbs on rotation of said flyers and extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said flyer and means for applying suction to said tubes for inducing fibre fuzz in the region of the flyer to enter said tube for the purpose of removal and collection thereof.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the inlet orifices in said suction tubes are slotted nozzles, the length of each of which is approximately equal to the length of the flyer limbs.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein at least one hollow suction passage extends over the entire length of the machine and is provided in the regions of the individual iiyers with suction openings disposed parallel to the axes of rotation of the iiyers and formed as slotted nozzles.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the suction tubes are vertically disposed and at least one of said suction tubes is provided at its upper end with several suction openings extending in different directions, and respectively associated with one of a pair of adjacent flyers.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein each suction tube is vertically disposed and is provided with at least two nozzle-like suction openings located at different levels in the height of said tube.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and wherein each of the suction tubes has a suction opening which is additional to its suction opening facing a iiyer and serves -for removing fibre fuzz from parts other than the iiyers of the spinning machine.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and having suction nozzles which are displaceable with respect to associated regions of rotation of the individual flyers.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, and characterised by suction collecting ducts having valve means, which ducts extend longitudinally of the machine, for establishing an operative communication by the suction device with any flyer or tiyer group independently of, or with simultaneous inoperativeness of, the other iiyers or groups.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the suction means comprises a self-contained suction unit which is fitted at its upper portion with a suction tube having at least one suction opening and at its lower portion with a housing into which the tube leads, said housing enclosing a lter and a fan unit.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, and including a scraper device at said suction opening which scraper de- 6 vice is associated with the limbs of the flyers in such manner that the said limbs during rotation of the yers are contacted by said scraper.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein means are provided to displace the suction means vertically relatively to the flyers and parallel to the axes of rotation of said flyers.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 and wherein means are provided for effecting vertical adjustment of the suction devices consistent with movement impulses for iniuencing vertical bobbin displacement.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the suction means are supported on the spindle bed itself for displacement therewith.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and wherein separate frame-like structures are provided for supporting the suction means and have an independent drive for achieving changes of position of the suction openings relatively to the limbs of the tiyers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,487,361 11/1949 Nirns 57--56 2,672,723 3/1954 Bechtler 57-56 XR 2,708,829 5/1955 Thoma 57---56v XR 2,717,484 9/1955 Hofstetter 57-56 2,780,908 2/1957 Bechtler 57-34.5 XR 2,814,176 11/1957 Bowie 57-56 3,018,503 l/1962 Hijiya et al. 57-56 XR 3,115,000 12/1963 Naegeli 57-56 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,095,102 12/1954 France.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLYER SPINNING MACHINE INCORPORATING A FRAME, A BED, A PLURALITY OF VETICALLY DISPOSED BOBBINS ON SAID BED, A PLUALITY OF FLYERS HAVING DEPENDING LIMBS WITH EACH FLYER ROTATABLE ABOUT THE AXIS OF ONE OF SAID BOBBINS FOR TWISTING YARN FED TO THE FLYER AND FOR WINDING SAID YARN ON SAID BOBBINS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID FLYERS AND SAID BOBBINS, SUNCTION MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SUCTION TUBE EACH ASSOCIATED WITH AT LEAST ONE FLYER AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE INLET ORIFICE FACING, AND DISPOSED IN THE VICINITY OF A CYLINDRICAL PATH GENERTED BY SAID LIMBS ON ROTATION OF SAID FLYERS AND EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID FLYER AND MEANS FOR APPLYING SUCTION TO SAID TUBES FOR INDUCING FIBRE FUZZ IN THE REGION OF THE FLYER TO ENTER SAID TUBE FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMOVAL AND COLLECTION THEREOF. 